The current state of the alpha testing.

[Vraciu]

nope what we really need is Pink mean p39 flying inverted between the town buildings shooting its 37mm

Nah.  You just saw some obsession over a pink Spitty.    Scary stuff.   

[SirNuke]

I just noticed that the tank tracks don't move, just the wheels do

[Skuzzy]

Oh, I could tell you a hundred things wrong or incomplete in that video, if that is what you want.

It is the first video, of the first time the game has been brought up with the new graphics engine and art.  It is a simple, "here is where we are today" video.  Of course it is not complete.  We have many things left to do.

We have no expectations from the community on this.  We are just making the effort to keep those who are not participating in the Alpha testing, abreast of the status.

The Alpha testers have been doing a bang up job in working with us.

[BaldEagl]

The hills look a lot better!   

[warhed]

Looks great, but just seems to be lacking....something........h mm I don't know...

[NatCigg]

The hills look a lot better!   

the hills look awesome.  a much more realistic looking terrain.   

simply put , 

[Arlo]

Oh, I could tell you a hundred things wrong or incomplete in that video, if that is what you want.

It is the first video, of the first time the game has been brought up with the new graphics engine and art.  It is a simple, "here is where we are today" video.  Of course it is not complete.  We have many things left to do.

We have no expectations from the community on this.  We are just making the effort to keep those who are not participating in the Alpha testing, abreast of the status.

The Alpha testers have been doing a bang up job in working with us.

Ya don't give a bone, they whine. Ya give a bone, they whine. Ingrate mongrels. 

[BaDkaRmA158Th]

See Rule #4

[bustr]

Aces High is like appreciating scotch.

Even if you bus a group to the factory where a world famous scotch is distilled. Spend all day teaching them the process of going from barley, peat, distilling and aging. Then set up a tasting class that clearly shows them how to discern and appreciate the product from young to aged. Most will only be there in the hopes of catching a buzz. And the more buzz they catch, the less the care other than they want their buzz.

That's why you advertise your product so the buzz catchers pay the light bill, and the scotch fans enjoy the scotch.

Right now we are loosing buzz catchers. New product always attracts more buzz catchers while old scotch fans are never very far away. Soon Hitech will declare the new vat ready for prime time.

[caldera]

See Rule #4

They can't do everything at once, but I sure hope they ramp up remodeling the planes ASAP.  


My Unauthorized and Worthless Opinion of the Current Plane Set...

Planes That Look Good/Very Good:

A6M
B-239
F6F*
P-39
P-40
B-25
B-26
B-29
C-47
Hurri
Mossie
Typhoon
262
410
He-111
Ju-87
202/205
Ki-43
N1K
G4M1
I-16
Lanc
La-5/7
Yak
Il-2

* I would say the F6 is borderline Good/Dated

Planes That Look Dated:

F4U
P-38
P-47
P-51
B-17
B-24
Spit
109
190
Ki-84


Planes That Look Ancient:

F4F/FM2
A-20/Boston
SBD
TBM *
Tempest
110
163
234
Ju-88
Ki-61
B5N
D3A
Ki-67

* An updated TBM was shown a while back in that Ill-fated Advertisement HTC made.  Draw your own conclusions.  

[SmokinLoon]

They can't do everything at once, but I sure hope they ramp up remodeling the planes ASAP. 


My Unauthorized and Worthless Opinion of the Current Plane Set...

Planes That Look Good/Very Good:

A6M
B-239
F6F*
P-39
P-40
B-25
B-26
B-29
C-47
Hurri
Mossie
Typhoon
262
410
He-111
Ju-87
202/205
Ki-43
N1K
G4M1
I-16
Lanc
La-5/7
Yak
Il-2

* I would say the F6 is borderline Good/Dated

Planes That Look Dated:

F4U
P-38
P-47
P-51
B-17
B-24
Spit
109
190
Ki-84


Planes That Look Ancient:

F4F/FM2
A-20/Boston
SBD
TBM *
Tempest
110
163
234
Ju-88
Ki-61
B5N
D3A
Ki-67

* An updated TBM was shown a while back in that Ill-fated Advertisement HTC made.  Draw your own conclusions. 

Essentially, I'm under the impression there are FOUR categories of aircraft when it comes to graphics.  First, are the "ancient" models (Ki-61 "Tony").  They are evidently from the original batch.  Second, are the "AH2" era.  Third, are those AH2 era planes that have had their cockpit internals upgraded to the top of the line graphics (P51's, Spits, etc).  Forth, are the top of the line best of the best that HTC has to offer (F6F, Typhoon, Zekes, P40's, etc).

I'm sure someone will comment further on that subject more in depth.

[Zerstorer]

Nah.  You just saw some obsession over a pink Spitty.    Scary stuff.  

Not at all.  "Pink" isn't a color which typically is attractive to the primary target audience i.e. men.  

Thanks for displaying your own particular obsession.  Again.

[Greebo]

The only real distinction you can make with AH's 3D models is the AH1 and AH2 stuff. The AH1 models were designed for the hardware of the time, with very low poly counts and for low res art (256 by 256 IIRC). They have lots of issues that make them a pain to skin including patched, stretched, distorted or duplicated areas and they also lack things like material files, bump and spec maps.

While the AH2 era skins have improved in poly count over the years and recently for bombers in resolution, they are all fundamentally the same to skin. They all have little or no stretching or duplication of the major external parts and all have bump and spec maps etc.

I don't know but I'd guess HTC will probably work through all the AH1 stuff (the "ancient" list) before redoing any of the earliest AH2 shapes. Once the graphics update is done that will probably be a couple of years work at the present rate, depending on how many new rides are also introduced.

[68ZooM]

Not at all.  "Pink" isn't a color which typically is attractive to the primary target audience i.e. men.  

Thanks for displaying your own particular obsession.  Again.

 when I fly that model of Spitfire the only skin color I use is pink, matter of fact our whole squad will fly that color when we choose that model spit...

[Zerstorer]

when I fly that model of Spitfire the only skin color I use is pink, matter of fact our whole squad will fly that color when we choose that model spit...

And I own a pink tie ("bubble gum pink" as I like to call it), and its very stylish. But the target audience of the game is (primarily) male....and that color, like it or not, isn't typically associated with "war" or "conflict" and so would likely not resonate well as part of an advertisement. And yes,  l completely understand it is a historically accurate skin, but that is also beside the point.

Anywho...back to the alpha discussion.